Electrolytically controlled delay device



1959 J. c. GOFF ET AL 2,868,126

ELECTROLYTICALLY CONTROLLED DELAY DEVICE.

Filed Dec. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS JOHN C. GOFF MONROE B. GOLDBERG ALLEN J. SONDHEIMER ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1959 FIG].

J. c. GOFF ET AL 2,868,126

ELECTROLYTICALLY CONTROLLED DELAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 FIGG4G 42 I2 2| 28 w r #W/ 22 l9 l3 s 39 23 F IG 5 a 27 I646 ,43 w 25 as 32 INVENTORS JOHN C. GOFF MONROE B. GOLDBERG ALLEN J. SONDHEIMER ATTORNEYS ELECTROLYTICALLY CONTROLLED DELAY DEVICE John C. Goff, Silver Spring, Monroe B. Goldberg, Hyattsville, and Allen J. Sondheimer, Bethesda, Md., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application December 4, 1952, erial No. 324,158

2 Claims. (1. 192-16) (Grantedunder Title 35, U. S. Qode (1952), see. 266) for a predetermined period of time after the mine has been planted in a body of water.

It has been found by actual use that prior art delay devices such, for example, as the type employing soluble washers, clock mechanism, arming cells and the like have not proven entirely satisfactory, for the reason that oftentimes, premature arming of the mine resulted from rapid dissolving of the washers and erratic operation of the clock mechanism and that the arming cell failed to functionin water of low salinity. In mine planting operations from a submarine or surface craft it is essential, for the protection of the vessel against damage and for the safety of the crew thereof, to provide means for assuring delay in the arming of the mine for a period of time sufiicient to permit the mine planting vessel to travel a safe distance from the mine field, and to function with certainty thereafter.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved delay element suitable for use with a marine mine which provides the desired delay, the time period being sufficient to permit the vessel to leave the vicinity before the delay element functions to arm the mine and thus provide for protection of the vessel against damage and for safety of the crew.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrolytically controlled delay device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a delay device for a marine mine in which means subject to electrolytic decomposition permits arming of the mine in predetermined time delayed relation with respect to the planting of the mine within a body of water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electrolytic cell for maintaining a mine in an initial safe position for a predetermined period of time after the mine has been planted in a body of water.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an electrolytic device for a marine mine which is rendered effective by the water as the mine is planted therein releasing the arming means of the mine when a predetermined period of time has elapsed which time period is substantially independent of the salinity of the water.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved electrolytic cell suitable for use with a marine mine which is economical to manufacture, reliable in operation and which possesses all the qualities of ruggedness and durability in operation.

at *i Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the cover plate removed;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Rig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of the electrolytic elements of the device.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the reference character 10 generally designates the device of the present invention comprising a casing 11 composed of any suitable plastic insulating material such, for example, as hard rubber, synthetic resin or the like. The casing 11 is provided with a centrally disposed recess or well 12 in communication with a restricted bore 13 which extends through the casing, a shoulder l l-being'formed at the juncture of the well 12 and bore 13, Figs. 3 and 4.

As more clearly shown on Figs. 4 and 5 a positive electrode generally indicated by the numeral 15 is disposed within the well 12 and comprises an annular inverted cup' shaped member 16 composed of any material suitable for use as the positive electrode of an electrolytic cell, preferably silver, and having a pair of diametrically disposed terminal members or ears 17 formed thereon and extending outwardly therefrom. The casing 11 has formed therein a pair of diametrically disposed recesses 18 bordering on and in communication with well 12 and having the pair of cars 17 arranged therein respectively. Each ear or terminal member is secured to the casing 11' by' a terminal bolt 19 comprising a nut 21 in engagement with the ears 1'7 and a head 22 in engagement with positive contacts 23-23, each contact 23 being disposed within a recess 2 formed in the casing 11. The cup-shaped member 16 is provided with a suitable depolarizer 25; silver chloride, which may be fused, pressed or otherwise deposited therein being preferred when a silver electrode is used.

As more clearly shown on Fig. 4 a negative electrode generally indicated by the reference character 26 is arranged within the well 12 and comprises a disc 27 composed of any material selected from the electromotive series suitable for use with the selected positive electrode, Zinc or magnesium being preferred when silver is of Waterproof insulating varnish 3% applied to that portion of the face of the disc outwardly of openings 28, limits the electrolytic decomposition of the disc to that portion unprotected by the varnish coating, for a purpose later to be described. The casing 11 has formed therein a pair of diametrically disposed recesses 31 bordering on and in communication with the well 12 and having the pair of ears 29 arranged therein respectively. Each ear 29 is secured to the casing 11 by a terminal bolt 32 com prising a nut 33 in engagement with ears 29 and a head 34 in engagement with contacts 35-35.

As more clearly shown on Figs. 4 and 5 a disc 36 is arranged between the electrodes -26. The disc 36 may be composed of any porous insulating material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as filter or blotting paper. The paper disc 36 acts as a separator, maintaining the member 16 spaced with respect to the disc 27, and also acts as wick means for supplying the cell with water when the mine is planted.

It has been found that the use of the porous disc .36 limits the electrolytic decomposition of the negative electrode to that portion of the electrode contacting the disc 36 and unprotected by the varnish 30 thus increasing the reliability of the cell. The disc 36' has been found, f rther, to make the time require-d to effect the deco1nposition of the annular portion of the disc between the openings 28 substantially independent of the salinity of the water which saturates the disc. It is believed that initial electrolytic action of the cell results in the disassociation of a portion of the silver chloride depolarizer 25 to yield chlorine ions which are held in solution in the water retained in the porous disc 36. This water thereafter serves as the electrolyte, thus making the continued action of the cell independent of the salinity of the water. It is to be understood that the foregoing is otfered by way of explanation only, and it is not intended that the specification and claims be limited thereby.

The disc 27 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 37 having a nipple 38 arranged therein and threaded as at 39 for threaded engagement with a sleeve 41, the nipple and sleeve being composed of any suitable insulating material. By this arrangement the disc 27 is clamped between the head 42 formed on the nipple 38 and a sleeve 41, the outer portion of the disc 27 being disposed in abutting engagement with the shoulder 14, Figs. 4 and 5. It will be apparent that, if so desired, the nipple and sleeve may be integrally molded in the disc. The nipple 38 is internally threaded as at 43 for threaded engagement with the plunger of a conventional hydrostatic arming mechanism such, for example, as the type shown and claimed in the patent to L. E. Kissinger, filed November 15, 1945, Patent No. 2,551,608. The present invention may also be advantageously employed for releasing an extender of the type shown and claimed in the copending application of John C. Goif, titled EX- tender Mechanism, filed December 24, 1952, Serial No. 327,944, now Patent No. 2,780,993 patented February 12, 1957.

A cover plate 44 composed of suitable insulating material may be secured to the casing 11, as by screws 45, the cover being provided with a centrally disposed opening 46 in registration with the well 12 and bore 13.

By the aforesaid electrolytic cell arrangement it will be understood that no electrical current will flow between the positive and negative electrode until the contacts 23 and 35' are engaged and bridged by suitable conducting means such, for example, as shown in the above mentioned application of John C. Gotf. Thus atmospheric moisture or water which may inadvertently Wet the disc 36 will not initiate the electrolytic action prior to interconnection of the contacts 23' and 35 thus materially extending the shelf life and insuring accuracy of the cell. When contacts 23 and 35 are interconnected, electrolytic decomposition of the negative electrode begins as til soon as Water is supplied to disc 36 and on completion thereof disc 27 will be severed thus permitting movement of sleeve 41 and head 42.

It will be understood that, if desired, a longer or shorter time delay period ma be provided before the negative electrode is decomposed by electrolytic action by employing an anode and cathode composed of metals more or less active in the electro-motive series of metals or by providing negative electrodes of difierent thicknesses.

in view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved electrolytic cell for use in a marine mine wherein means rendered effective by electrolytic action is adapted to release the arming mechanism of the mine for movement from an initial safe position to an armed position a predetermined time after planting the mine in a body of water.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. In an electrolytic cell, an annular positive electrode, an annular negative electrode, insulating means for supporting said electrodes in spaced relation, a porous separator between said electrodes, said negative electrode having an insulating coating on a portion of the surface thereof, said porous separator contacting at least a part of that portion of the surface of the negative electrode which is free. of said coating, and means for interconnecting said electrodes whereby resulting electrolytic action will decompose the aforesaid part of said negative electrode.

2. An electrolytic device for actuating the arming mechanism of a mine comprising a casing composed of insulating material, said casing being provided with a bore and a centrally disposed recess in communication with said bore, an annular cup-shaped positive electrode disposed Within said recess, a disc-shaped negative electro-de disposed Within said recess in spaced relation with and insulated from said positive electrode, a porous paper disc between said positive and negative electrodes,

' said electrodes being adapted to develop a voltage in response to contact of water therewith thereby to cause electrolytic decomposition of the negative electrode, a pair of ears formed on said .positive electrode and having a pair of contact members operatively connected thereto, and a pair of ears formed on said negative electrode and having a pair of contact members operatively connected thereto, and means on said negative electrode for connecting said negative electrode to the arming mechanism of a mine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,450,059 Becker Mar. 27, 1923 2,403,567 Wales July 9, 1946 2,551,608 Kissinger May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 532,841 Germany Sept. 11, 1931 

